We’re on to the second week of college football after an exciting, and successful, first week. Below, we look at the best bets for three small-school winners in Week 2 and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Every week we’ll target three smaller schools that are good bets to cash tickets and win big money. It doesn’t really matter the size of the school, it’s winners that matter.
This week we’ll tap two Conference USA teams to cover the number, and we’ll look to an independent to get the job done down south.
Also see: 2021 Heisman Trophy odds
Three small-school best bets of Week 2
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET.
FAU (-7.5, +100) vs. Georgia Southern (Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET)
The Owls of FAU were handled 35-14 at Florida last Saturday in The Swamp, but they did get the backdoor cover while building a little bit of confidence heading into its home opener.
Georgia Southern narrowly escaped last weekend in Statesboro as a 27.5-point favorite, edging Gardner-Webb of the FCS by a 30-25 score. GSU held a 20-6 lead at halftime, but the Bulldogs from Boiling Springs, N.C., outscored the Eagles 19-10 in the second half, and Georgia Southern was never close to a cover.
FAU couldn’t spring the upset, but QB N’Kosi Perry, the former Miami Hurricanes signal-caller, played well, and the diminutive speedster RB Johnny Ford had 11 touches, and looked like the fastest guy on the field at times.
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North Texas (+22.5, -110) at SMU (Saturday at 7 p.m. ET)
The UNT Eagles rolled up 345 rushing yards and totaled 527 yards of offense in a 44-14 win and cover against FCS Northwestern State.
SMU grabbed a 56-9 win and cover against Abilene Christian at home, and QB Tanner Mordecai looked good in his first game filling the big shoes of the departed QB Shane Buechele.
The Mustangs should get a much bigger test from the Mean Green, however. We saw these teams combine for 100 total points last season in a 65-35 win by SMU. Prior to that, these teams combined for 76 points in 2019, and in 2018 we saw 69 total points in a 46-23 North Texas win.
For an added bonus, play North Texas (+22.5), and roll with the Over (73.5, -105) for a nice parlay opportunity.
Liberty (-4.5, -105) at Troy (Saturday at 7 p.m. ET)
The Flames roughed up FCS Campbell last week, winning 48-7 at home. Troy also handled its FCS foe with a 55-3 blasting of Southern University.
Despite the fact the Trojans looked so good, the public isn’t having any of it. That’s because the Flames are 6-0 ATS in their last six games as favorites, 6-1 ATS in their past seven against the Sun Belt and 14-3 ATS in the previous 17 games overall.
I am never a favorite of rolling with the public, who are playing the Flames at a 2-to-1 clip; however, I am riding and dying with Joey Public on this one. I like the powerful offense of the Flames.
Last Week’s Recap
South Dakota (+13.5) picked up a cover, losing 17-14 at Kansas, and they nearly won outright. FCS East Tennessee State (+21.5) did win outright, spoiling the coaching debut of Clark Lea at Vanderbilt, 23-3. Kent State (+28.5) nearly made it a three-game sweep at Texas A&M, but the field goal kicker for the Golden Flashes missed not once, but twice, in the final quarter for the backdoor cover. The Aggies held on for the 41-10 win and cover, a bad beat for sure.
Last Week: 2-1 (+90)
Season Total: 2-1 (+90)
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